Secondary radiation - Revision history

RichardWSmith: Expanded write up to make things clearer. Added link.

2024-09-26T00:24:57Z

Expanded write up to make things clearer. Added link.

RichardWSmith: Gave better explanation of secondary radiation. It can be produced from habitats walls.

2024-09-15T10:24:46Z

Gave better explanation of secondary radiation. It can be produced from habitats walls.

RichardWSmith: /* See also */

2024-09-15T10:18:39Z

RichardWSmith: /* See also */ Added link and fixed organization.

2024-09-15T10:18:17Z

See also: Added link and fixed organization.

RichardWSmith: Added links.

2024-09-15T10:16:44Z

Added links.

RichardWSmith: Added reference

2022-05-26T15:21:49Z

Added reference

RichardWSmith: First draft of this page.

2021-03-03T05:08:00Z

First draft of this page.

New page

Primary radiation includes cosmic rays, radiation from the decay of local atoms, and radiation from the sun. Secondary radiation is radiation created by particles hitting atoms and generating other forms of radiation. Low energy radiation produces little secondary radiation, the majority of secondary radiation comes from cosmic rays.

For example, a cosmic ray slams into the atmosphere and creates a mass of secondary particles, all with lower energies than the original particle. Some of these will have charges (and are thus be effected by electric and magnetic fields), others will be neutral particles which will ignore them. The high energy secondary particles may have enough energy to make further (lower energy) particles, etc. This can create a swarm of secondary particles which are more dangerous than the single original cosmic ray.

On Mars, the thin atmosphere allows more cosmic rays to reach ground level, so secondary radiation from them is higher than on Earth. When planning on creating radiation shielding, both primary and secondary radiation should be considered.

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-Primary radiation includes [[Cosmic radiation |cosmic rays]], radiation from the decay of local atoms, and radiation from the sun.  Secondary radiation is radiation created by particles hitting atoms and generating other forms of radiation.  Low energy radiation produces little or no secondary radiation, the majority of secondary radiation comes from cosmic rays.
+Radiation can either be particles, or short wavelength [[Electromagnetic radiation]].  Secondary radiation is never caused by electromagnetic energy.
 For example, a cosmic ray slams into the atmosphere and creates a mass of secondary particles, all with lower energies than the original particle.  These travel within 1% of the direction of the original particle.  Some of these will have charges (and are thus be effected by electric and magnetic fields), others will be neutral particles which will ignore them.  The high energy secondary particles may have enough energy to make further (lower energy) particles, etc.  This can create a swarm of secondary particles which are more dangerous than the single original cosmic ray.
-On Mars, the thin atmosphere allows more cosmic rays to reach ground level, so less secondary radiation is produced.  However, that which is produced is less likely to be slowed by more air, and so will slam into the surface.  Secondary radiation can also be produce by hitting the walls of the habitat, or the radiation shielding of the habitat.
+On Mars, the thin atmosphere allows more cosmic rays to reach ground level, so less secondary radiation is produced in the air.  However, that which is produced is less likely to be slowed by more air, and so will slam into the surface.  Secondary radiation can also be produce by hitting the walls of the habitat, or the radiation shielding of the habitat.
 Overall, the result is that the secondary radiation from cosmic rays is higher than on Earth.  When planning on creating radiation shielding, both primary and secondary radiation should be considered.

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-Primary radiation includes [[Cosmic radiation |cosmic rays]], radiation from the decay of local atoms, and radiation from the sun.  Secondary radiation is radiation created by particles hitting atoms and generating other forms of radiation.  Low energy radiation produces little secondary radiation, the majority of secondary radiation comes from cosmic rays.
+Primary radiation includes [[Cosmic radiation |cosmic rays]], radiation from the decay of local atoms, and radiation from the sun.  Secondary radiation is radiation created by particles hitting atoms and generating other forms of radiation.  Low energy radiation produces little or no secondary radiation, the majority of secondary radiation comes from cosmic rays.
-For example, a cosmic ray slams into the atmosphere and creates a mass of secondary particles, all with lower energies than the original particle.  Some of these will have charges (and are thus be effected by electric and magnetic fields), others will be neutral particles which will ignore them.  The high energy secondary particles may have enough energy to make further (lower energy) particles, etc.  This can create a swarm of secondary particles which are more dangerous than the single original cosmic ray.
+For example, a cosmic ray slams into the atmosphere and creates a mass of secondary particles, all with lower energies than the original particle.  These travel within 1% of the direction of the original particle.  Some of these will have charges (and are thus be effected by electric and magnetic fields), others will be neutral particles which will ignore them.  The high energy secondary particles may have enough energy to make further (lower energy) particles, etc.  This can create a swarm of secondary particles which are more dangerous than the single original cosmic ray.
-On Mars, the thin atmosphere allows more cosmic rays to reach ground level, so secondary radiation from them is higher than on Earth.  When planning on creating radiation shielding, both primary and secondary radiation should be considered.
+On Mars, the thin atmosphere allows more cosmic rays to reach ground level, so less secondary radiation is produced.  However, that which is produced is less likely to be slowed by more air, and so will slam into the surface.  Secondary radiation can also be produce by hitting the walls of the habitat, or the radiation shielding of the habitat.
 ==See also==

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 [[Cosmic Radiation]]
-[[Solar cosmic rays]]
+[[Solar Cosmic Rays]]
 [[Galactic Cosmic Rays]]
 [[Extra Galactic Cosmic Rays]]

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 [[Cosmic Radiation]]
 [[Galactic Cosmic Rays]]
 [[Extra Galactic Cosmic Rays]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Primary radiation includes [[cosmic rays]], radiation from the decay of local atoms, and radiation from the sun.  Secondary radiation is radiation created by particles hitting atoms and generating other forms of radiation.  Low energy radiation produces little secondary radiation, the majority of secondary radiation comes from cosmic rays.
+Primary radiation includes [[Cosmic radiation |cosmic rays]], radiation from the decay of local atoms, and radiation from the sun.  Secondary radiation is radiation created by particles hitting atoms and generating other forms of radiation.  Low energy radiation produces little secondary radiation, the majority of secondary radiation comes from cosmic rays.
 For example, a cosmic ray slams into the atmosphere and creates a mass of secondary particles, all with lower energies than the original particle.  Some of these will have charges (and are thus be effected by electric and magnetic fields), others will be neutral particles which will ignore them.  The high energy secondary particles may have enough energy to make further (lower energy) particles, etc.  This can create a swarm of secondary particles which are more dangerous than the single original cosmic ray.
 On Mars, the thin atmosphere allows more cosmic rays to reach ground level, so secondary radiation from them is higher than on Earth.  When planning on creating radiation shielding, both primary and secondary radiation should be considered.